When you repeat their name for it, you've agreed with them that it's backed by a world movement, far more people than the sectarian group behind it. @religion
you are welcome to join a service with the Beyond the Walls congregation today.
just getting started. the topic is the Enduring Prinicple of Worth of All Persons. that's one of my favorites. A wonderful way to embody Christ is to advocate and proselytize the principle that ALL people are of worth, and the need to lift up and listen to the marginalized who are often devalued
A long train ride to Nara and hiking many kilometers around Asuka Village, the cradle of Japanese civilization. The Asuka period ca. 592-710 marked the introduction of Buddhism, Mainland-inspired reforms, and a change of the country name from Wa (倭) to Nippon (日本).
I went to three early 7th Century sites. Okadera was one of the earliest temples, later Kūkai's Shingon, with a large statue of him as a pilgrim.
Ishibutai Kofun means stone stage, the largest megalith in Japan, probably the tumulus of Soga no Umako, a promoter of Buddhism and a reformer with Prince Shōtoku. Dolmen - rock slabs over graves - were common around the ancient world, but the ones at Ishibutai must weigh tons.
Tachibanadera commemorates the birthplace of Prince Shōtoku. It is rich in historical artifacts and beautiful with a field of cosmos blooming now. There is a formation in the temple 二面石 meaning two-faced rock. I'm tempted to use it like an emoji 👺 .
I've been surrounded by people of #Japanese and Asian heritage since my 20s in #Hawaii, so it's an odd feeling to see mostly foreign tourists in #Kyoto on a weekday. They seem to be fanning out to places I go for walks but are less spectacular than the famous temples you pay to enter. In the future I think much of #Japan could be like Hawaii, with tourism and immigrants like myself attracted to the relatively well-preserved culture and nature.
On a typical spur-of-the-moment walk, I spent no money except on a short train ride and walked through the tourist street past Gion, through Yasaka Shrine and Maruyama Park to the temple Chion-In. It's a headquarters of a major Pure Land sect with numerous parishioners, some tending to their ancestors, unlike either the open air museum type of temples or Zen centers.
I slipped into Kyōto and back home just before an explosive thunderstorm. Limited to four photos and captions, here is a bit of the flavor of Chion-In.
in a bit, i am about to turn everything off and just pray and be with God uninterrupted.
my spirit is troubled and i am sure many of yours are too.
work message may come in by COB (20 ish minutes) so around then.
feel free to join me wherever you are.
let us seek the peace of God to come over our minds, and hearts. to clear our vision of the world, and see the sacredness and worth in all of God's creation.
Here in Japan 30 years ago, I was promoted to full professor, for publications, so my work has been all for the joy of discovery and sharing.
I've been drawn back into Online Education, a field I've been active in since 1995. I teach Bilingualism and Intercultural Communication classes. I lecture for the government, introducing Japan. Living near Kyoto, I research prehistoric to Heian Period religions in Japan. Moreover, I also publish about the academic life that I live by.
Having readers worldwide is most precious, and there is so much to share. I'll therefore have to take one field at a time and select widely read and cited publications.
Christian Sci-Fi Night with Professor K, October edition: Frankenstein, the 1931 classic starring Boris Karloff. Mon., Oct. 16, 6pm, Life Assembly Church, Maple Grove, MN
#Ganesh is popular #Hindu god associated with beginnings, luck, and the removal of obstacles. He is particularly venerated in #Rajasthan and we were in #Jaipur during the start of Gansha Chaturthi. When we arrived at our hotel, we noticed two altars to him. And as we left our hotel, we realized that there was a third one just above the door. If you look at many homes here, you will see a small idol of #Ganesha just above the door.
I have been listening to Laufey's new jazz album "Bewitched" non-stop. I am obsessed, and I think it is an artistic masterpiece. I wrote a blog post about it here: